House supports helicopter hunting of feral hogs, coyotes

AUSTIN — Taking aim at a rapidly growing feral hog population and its reported encroachment into urban areas, state lawmakers overwhelmingly passed legislation Monday allowing the animals to be hunted from helicopters.

In a 137-9 vote, the state House signaled wide support for the aerial shooting of feral hogs, which cause $400 million a year in damages, said the bill's author, Rep. Sid Miller, R-Stephenville. The hogs are expanding in prolific numbers across Texas, he said, and also are becoming a nuisance in urban areas, destroying golf courses and cemeteries.

Coyotes also are on the hit list.

“It's a serious problem,” Miller said after the House tentatively approved HB 716

After a final vote today, the bill heads to the Senate, which did not act on similar legislation two years ago. Miller said he expects a friendlier reception this year because more legislators are aware of the feral hog problem. He added coyote hunting from helicopters to his bill this year.

“People are losing their pets because (coyotes) are coming up into the yards,” Miller said.

Current law allows a landowner to hire an aerial hunting company to manage nuisance animals, such as feral hogs and coyotes, so long as it is not for sport. His bill would allow a landowner to sell a seat on the helicopter to defray expenses.

Miller said the state's feral hog population is growing 20 percent per year, as feral hogs mature within 12 months and annually produce two litters. He said the city of Irving recently trapped 250 feral hogs within the city limits.

“It's a real problem. (Hunting by helicopter) is the most effective way that we have at our disposal right now,” he said, adding Texas A&M University is working on a sterilization project.

The legislation would not allow helicopter hunting for feral hogs and coyotes in urban areas. Limited opposition to the bill came from several urban legislators.

“The bill didn't contain any provision for cleanup (of the carcasses),” Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, said. “The amount of hogs that may be killed in one outing could be dangerous to water supplies and to kids.”

Too, aerial hunting isn't the best way to approach the burgeoning feral population, one Houston lawmaker said.

“I'm concerned whenever we're allowing people to hunt from helicopters,” said Rep. Ana Hernandez Luna, a Democrat. “I don't think, in terms of public safety, we should open up that door to allow hunting from helicopters because of liability issues and the risk involved.”